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Ryan O'Connor, DDS
Associate Dentist
A lifelong Washingtonian, Dr. Ryan O'Connor was born and raised in the "Palm Springs" of our beautiful state: the city of Yakima. In 2001, he relocated to the greener side of the Cascades to pursue college and has been a Seattleite ever since.
Education
- University of Washington
- B.S. Neurobiology
- University of Washington School of Dentistry
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- University of Washington General Practice Residency
While earning his BS and his DDS from University of Washington, Dr. O'Connor donated hundreds of hours of his time and skill to the Puget Sound region's many volunteer health projects, including the renowned American Dental Association's Give Kids a Smile® program and also the Honduras Dental Mission Project.
Continuing Education
Dr. O'Connor is continually pursuing advanced education in dentistry. He attends weekly seminars held by the UW Periodontics & Prosthodontics graduate programs and also regularly participates in continuing education through the Washington Academy of General Dentistry.
As well as enjoying a wide variety of general dental procedures, the complex art of fixing bites and straightening crooked teeth -orthodontia-- has always interested Dr. O'Connor. He is proud to join Dr. Berman in offering the services of Preferred Invisalign® Providers.
Dr. O'Connor also maintains a license in Moderate Sedation with Parenteral Agents in addition to his General Dentist license.
Professional
Because Dr. O'Connor is also faculty at UW School of Dentistry, when he is not here at Innovative Dentistry, he balances his time between teaching dental students in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and performing hospital dentistry rotations in the school's Advanced General Dentistry Clinic. Additionally, he is also part-time faculty for the dental hygiene program at the Seattle Vocational Institute. Innovative Dentistry is scheming to woo Dr. O'Connor from most of these extra-curricular activities, because our end-goal is that he expands to full-time dentist status here, alongside Dr. Berman!
Outside the Office
Dr. O'Connor and his lovely wife Jennifer -also a dentist-- have recently become the proud dog-parents of an adorable half Chihuahua and half toy-fox terrier named Lulu. See our Facebook page for pictures of the entire team's four-legged children!
Mary
LDH, Licensed & Credentialed Dental Hygienist
Mary joined our team in 2008 and quickly became beloved by both her patients and her team mates.
Because she, herself, is an anxious dental patient, she genuinely empathizes with her more nervous clients. Her caring attitude coupled with her highly developed technical skills make her one in a thousand.
Keeping current with science, medical studies, and technology is another sterling quality of Mary's - she takes great pride in meticulously delivering to each client a customized , state-of-the-art "hygiene wellness visit." She has been instrumental in spearheading and helping execute our highly effective, pain-free, cleaning procedures using the latest in laser gum therapy.
Mary's life exemplifies the old Confucius quote: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." She suspects that not many people get paid to actually live their passion, and she counts herself among the lucky few!
Mary resides in Queen Anne with her significant other, Frank, and her dachshund, Hetta. She loves everything about the outdoors, from gardening to nature walks, and thus finds the Pacific Northwest culture embracing.
She is the mother of one daughter and four stepchildren and a grandmother of six.
Ashley
Licensed Dental Hygienist
Ashley joined Innovative Dentistry in the summer of 2012. Everyone agrees she is the perfect enhancement and compliment to our existing team members' skills and strengths, and she is fun to work with as well!
Earning her dental hygiene license from Shoreline Community College, Ashley furthered her medical education, completing a 4-year Bachelor of Science Degree at Northern Arizona University.
Years of experience in hygiene and dentistry coupled with Ashley's natural intellectual curiosity make her a very "innovative" team member. She constantly studies the most current dental science and technology and genuinely loves her career of choice, resulting in truly customized oral health plans for each of her varied patients.
As most of you know, Mary, our other wonderful hygienist, pioneered our laser hygiene program, so when Ashley arrived and revealed she not only had four years experience of laser soft-tissue management, but that she also taught laser skills to others, we knew we'd have a winning partnership in our hygiene department.
A self-admitted "health and sports nut," Ashley loves talking to patients about the connection between systemic and oral health and how nutrition and fitness play such a vital role.
On her days off, you will find Ashley spending time with her much-adored son, Zura, and her wonderful husband, Irakly. If she has any time left over after chasing around her toddler, you might also catch her playing or watching sports or just cuddled up with a good book.
Alecia
Dental Assistant, EFDA
Alecia, a true Seattle native, grew up in Montlake area and began her career in dentistry shortly after high school. She joined the Innovative Dentistry team in 2008 and has been especially loving the South Lake Union neighborhood.
Alecia works closely with Dr. Berman and is especially gifted with a soothing, comforting, chairside manner. Her ability to put patients at ease while educating and explaining procedures has made her a "special request" from many clients.
Alecia is passionate about people's health and well-being - in her own words:
"I love how changing and improving a patient's smile transforms not only their self- confidence, but sometimes their entire personality."
She is a true leader, setting the tone for the office as relaxed, yet technical and professional. She cares for all of her patients like they were friends and family.
Alecia's own family is her primary joy in life: her husband, George, and son, Jeff - both of whom keep her very busy when she's not at work!
Amber
Dental Assistant, EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary)
Amberjean joined our dental team in 2009, bringing up the office's energy level by several notches! In fact, her enthusiasm dictates that her biography be read from "first person" perspective - so here you are:
"Hi - I'm Amber and I love our close, warm, caring and fun office. I have been a practicing dental clinician since 2002 and am thrilled to be part of the most amazing dental team I've ever come across in this industry. I am also happy to be in this fabulous neighborhood of South Lake Union - so many fun developments and many, great new people we're meeting every day!
I'm lucky to work closely with the dentists: every day I watch and assist exceptional dentistry delivered with kindness and perfection. As someone who appreciates beauty, art and health, I also love educating people about how to achieve and maintain a gorgeous and healthy smile. It is so rewarding to see renewal, transformation and happiness radiating from someone we've helped.
I'm also a proud mother of three girls: my identical twins, Jade and Trinidy, and the baby of the family, Penelope. Spare time? Not so much! But my hobbies include dancing, painting, and music. But above all, my family."
Sorigiah
Director of First Impressions/Scheduling Coordinator
Sorigiah (pronounced sor-EE-uh) is the first person you see upon entering our office. Her welcoming smile and remarkable memory ensure that although you may be a stranger the first time you walk through our door, by your second visit you'll be greeted like an old friend.
A University of Washington graduate coming from the banking industry, Sorigiah had no previous dental background. But Dr. Berman knew great customer service and innate intelligence when he saw it. As our fellow Seattleites over at Nordstrom say, "Hire the smile, train the skill," and that's why Sorigiah has been with us since 2007!
Sorigiah also makes sure our patients maintain regular check-ups and cleaning schedules. Additionally, you might hear from her if you refer new patients to our office, because she keeps track of such niceties and will send a customized thank-you token of our appreciation.
Sorigiah was born in Indonesia but raised right here in Seattle. Her greatest joy is spending time with her family: her husband Ash and their two boys, Isa and Amir. She also loves to cook and snowboard, though not simultaneously.
Lisa
Office Manager
Well, someone has to do it! Having a background of over 20 years in management, customer service, and medical and dental billing, she is also the lucky one who gets to contend with your insurance company to make sure your claim is paid. Lisa is your patient advocate to help you understand your insurance and work with you and your insurance together to resolve claims. You can ask for her personally any time you have questions regarding your benefits or patient balance.
Bitten with the travel bug, Lisa loves to hear stories of our patient's travel experiences, particularly Italy which she has been fortunate enough to visit.
Lisa lives on a houseboat in South Lake Union with the loves of her life; her boyfriend and one child - aka her dog Crockett!
A true local, her family's presence in the Seattle area goes back four generations. Her father, Jim was the original "fish thrower" at Pike Place Market some 40 years ago. Her grandfather, a good friend of Ivar Haglund, owned Pier 57. What started out as a fish processing plant, is now home to Fisherman's Restaurant and Seattle's beautiful Ferris Wheel.
Elisabeth
Treatment Coordinator
Elisabeth joined Innovative Dentistry in 2010, bringing diverse work experience to the dental field. Teaching history and language arts to junior-high students in So Cal, marketing a 5-star boutique hotel company in LA, and managing her own father's Oregon dental practice have given her unique perspective, an eye for detail, and infinite patience for working in this rapidly-growing, cutting-edge dental clinic.
One of Elisabeth's favorite things about her job is her co-workers. She loves that they are intelligent, supportive, loyal, funny, and hardworking. That each team member possesses all of those qualities is rare in any work environment, let alone the high-stress atmosphere of the dental healthcare field. Elisabeth often mentions that the "good vibe" of our office team is palpable.
Another favorite aspect of Elisabeth's job is interfacing with our patients: the primary demographic here in South Lake Union is urban, well-travelled, savvy and smart; good for fun conversations and lots of great restaurant, art, trip destinations and film recommendations!
When Elisabeth is not helping patients plan their dental treatment, she and her husband Gary work on restoring their 1914 Capitol Hill house. Elisabeth looks forward with anticipation to the day that project is finished so she can spend more time on her other interests, including but not limited to: vegetarian cooking, architectural history, music (esp. blues), gardening, restaurants, films, travel, birding, playing the piano, art and snuggling with the fur-babies: Kingston, Manny and Sampson (cats), and Lilly, their Red Lacy rescue dog.